Pitt4401

So notification could come at any time or not at all. Allow me to explain, Mother Blue has done her best to let folks decline school without ill-will. But the thing is, lots of folks won't shit or get off the pot until March-May... As a result, they greatly reduce the time for folks downstream to make a decision. I am at ACSC as a student right now, I can tell you school leadership was having plenty of no-shows by RNLTD... As a result a small rush was on with AFPC to get folks headed to the school house.

ATC chatter doesn't count.

I have not gone through a special selection board but I did spend a stint as the assignments officer for my career field (not on the porch). Here's what I can tell you from my memory... If you are missing items, last I heard, the default answer is to allow the member to meet the supplemental board. What does the supplemental board look like? They essentially recreate the board that you met. Meaning, the records of folks that need to meet the supplemental board are intermingled with a controlled sample from the original board. This sample represents the cut-off that occurred at that board. If your record can beat the records that made it across the finish line...then you will be promoted. If not, then you do not promote. A word of advice. I had a member's put a crap-ton of hope into "Well my joint time was incorrect" on my record. But in the end, it didn't move the needle. Don't get me wrong, every inch counts (Al Pachino--Any Given Sunday)... but be mindful that you aren't creating false hope.

Ho Lee Fuk

Funny moment from SOS with the Commandant-in-question: It was Day 1 or 2 of the course and he was giving his intro speech. He said words to the effect of "Take a look around, for 80% of you this will be your last in-residence PME experience" Next to me was a SpecOps pilot who was silently shaking and pulling his fist in celebration... I don't think our esteemed leader thought his words would have that effect.

I am skimming it now, what you learn is Gates was incredibly devoted to the young Americans fighting today's war. In his own words he did not see many senior officers share a sense of urgency in the middle of the fight -- which is why he took many of the actions he took. He was the right SECDEF for the time. By his own admission, we do a bad job at preparing for the next fight, so time will tell of reducing the Gen 5 fighter buy will come back to haunt us. But I will say this, as a lay person... The Air Force's initial reluctance to build up the RPA capability is dumbfounding. Consider this: -Wounded/Dead/Captured Aircrew are a political liability and can erode public support for a campaign -Cheaper cost comparisons to conventional aircraft (I fully admit a lot of talking heads leave out the support costs and other expenses) -Loiter capability How could a 3 or 4 star back in the 1990s not realize this was going to be the next incredibly popular weapon system with our elected leaders? I am not saying that we should consider the manned aircraft a relic of the past and that RPAs will solve all of our problems. What I am saying, is I wonder if someone had exercised foresight in the 1990s if we could have gotten ahead of this thing and prevented all the growing pains associated with the quick build up. For example, if the 11U AFSC had been crafted in the late 1990s could the forced RPA tours been mitigated to some extent? For a branch of the military that claims it was born from and embraced technology, our experience with RPAs would prove otherwise.

Not to mention the impact on the sacrosanct PT test

Anyone else wondering why Wilkerson's philandering as a Captain wasn't rewarded with enough administrative action to prevent his promotion to Major. Point being, had someone drawn the line at that point...we wouldn't even be having this conversation now?

Why am I having visions of the Courtroom scene from The Boondock Saints?

J, Thanks for asking this question, looks like you found the answer. Only thing I can add is when I was at SOS last year, a rep from AU did their company pitch for the OLMP and I remember saying that at the completion of the Capt's version that you could do 4 more courses and knock out ACSC. I think it's already been covered here, but I'll give credit to Big Blue for offering a free, no-adsc option for those looking to check to box. On a side note, question for the crowd...Is the OK State MBA still seen as the best value for a distance learning AACSB-certified for .mil folks?

The NatGeo crew did a good job of telling this story, and an even better job at staying out of the sensitive turf battles that took place during that period of time. In some episodes you can hear dialogue about which missions are "inside the box", I give a lot of credit to the camera crews not trying to turn that into an issue. My only gripe is that NatGeo only bought 6 episodes, it seems rare to see meaningful TV programming lately.

Bazinga

I know there's no fooling the JFTR on this one...but it seems just like another sad story of Big Blue doing less for its people. It is easy to imagine scenarios where the dependent travel is a god-send for spouses stationed far from their extended family or hometown. (Having just wrapped a 36-month tour at Eielson...very easy to imagine) Probably another reason we need to make Finance Guy king of his domain, so he can correct this problem.

http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123302134 Panetta orders Air Force to take further steps on F-22 ... Finally, Panetta directed the Air Force to provide him with a monthly progress report as the service continues the search for the root cause of the problem. These steps are in addition to the measures the Air Force is already taking to determine the root causes of the hypoxia-like symptoms pilots have experienced. Panetta made this decision in part due to the reluctance of some pilots to fly the aircraft, Little said. ... I know the devil's advocate will say that Big Blue was arleady trying to work the issue. But I still say, the squadron should buy those two a couple of rounds for directing the proper attention to this. Big Blue only tends to move quickly when the heat is on (KC-767, Dover, etc...........)

Disagree. I think these guys did it by the book (Congressional top cover, professional interview, mature discussion of their concerns). Not the Air Force "by-the-book" method. But then, you might want to ask some folks in Dover how it went for them when they trusted Senior leadership to do the right thing.

Good to know. Just curious if anyone else on the board has spotted any worth while deals? Sadly, the days of picking up a Saiga 7.62x39mm for $189 at Dunhams (East coast Sporting good chain) are long gone. Or getting a lighly used CZ-75 for $350

Hey gents, As a long time shooter, I know those of us who have been in the shooting sports have seen a lot of the good deals dry up. Just thought I would share with you guys what I found for the S&W M&P Series... I have been eyeing a .40 for use in IDPA in the SSP class and USPSA Production -- maybe even roll my own ammo to make the Major powerfactor in the L-10 series http://www.quanticoa...rands/sw/sw.asp http://www.ombexpress.com/c-48-first-responder-complete-firearms.aspx#Filter=[pagenum=1*ava=0] and the kicker... a $50 rebate from the factory...so you can get a top notch service-type pistol for under $400... That deal is like a sore dick, can't beat it. http://www.smith-wes...97_757797_image ETA: If you are a Glock fan... You can use this company and ship to your local FFL http://www.edspublicsafety.com/catalog.pdf

Folks, I got the text from my work account, but be on the look out for an article running in the AF Times regarding the force management stuff included in the latest NDAA. I will try not to violate the copyright, but some of the highlights I remember -15 year retirements - VSP - Early Retirement Incentive Pay The two bits of commentary in the story stuck in my memory 1. The author mentioned that the NDAA was rolling out force management options not seen since the post Cold-war Era drawdown 2. A congressional aide was quoted (under anonymity) that law makers said that the services were not planning for large drawdowns...but it seemed quite shortsighted from their perspective since lawmakers thought that the outlook is not nearly as rosy as the chiefs think it is

With it being a federal holiday, there are no agents in the Pittsburgh field office today. I will call again on Monday.

As a support dude, I love the fact that you guys attacked this with vigor. I will call the paper tomorrow then make a call to the FBI field office. There are few spots for AF officers to chat online...I might lose you on the finer details of TAMI-21 and unneeded pain of white jets or an Alpha tour... But glad we value the same things.

I asked the post gazette for a high-res photo.....but I smell a rat

This is the image in question

And an AFAM and AF Marksmanship Ribbon...and a Army Basic Training Ribbon.... WTH.

Hey guys, Goto Postgazette.com right now ( a pittsburgh newspaper website) and they have a photo on their front page of a "former" marine. Am I the only one finding something strange with his uniform?

Thanks for the input...and you are right... she is the one who will be carrying it, not me. At a certain point you have to ask the question "Why am I deciding the gun she will buy? She sure as shit isn't telling me what shoes I wear" I guess I shouldnt be so quick to write off a single-stack .380 or 9mm... I think I might need to try that one more time with her. I will say this... I am not hot on the idea of her carrying it in a purse, for the fact that I think if you carry a gun...it needs to be on your person at all times. (But again, maybe I am wrong on this one) On the flip side, I think I should be grateful to have a fiancee that is open to the idea of arming herself...and defending her own life. Too many crazies out there.